Camp Week 1!

What a week! I'm bummed because the texting to my blog from my phone didn't work again this week. Precamp for this first week went really well. We visited a lot of families and scheduled the projects for our first camp. The kids came on Sunday morning and we played a bunch of games and split them up into their work groups for the week. Every morning during the week we would wake them up at 7, breakfast at 7:30, devotion after that, and then we send them to their projects around 9 am. while the campers were out working, I would go visit them, but mainly I was visiting more families we might be able to work for. We had various worships for the kids every night after they got back from working. On Monday we performed a skit with several of the staff where we were holding candles and singing this little light of mine. One of our staff members played the role of the devil and tried to discourage us. The point was that each of us has a light and we are to shine God's light to the world and take it wherever we go. On Tuesday night we did vespers which is just music and singing. Wednesday night we had a walk through worship where the campers walked to different stations where a staff member had a particular emotion. Then one of our staff gave her testimony and told the campers that in life they are going to go through all kinds of emotions and that they need to give every part of their lives to the Lord. It was truly powerful and we gave the campers the opportunity to come and pray with us or with their friends. Thursday night we had what we call "GT" worship. GT is call Guy Time/ Girl Time where we split up guys and girls and are able to talk about things they are struggling with or whatever they want. Friday night we had more sharing about how they saw God in the day and then "campfire". We couldn't have an actual campfire because we are at a school, but it is a time where the kids can do skits (funny or serious), sing songs, and have fun together. Then afterwards we take communion and the camp director gives her fishhook speech. This is the speech to remind kids to be fisher's of men and to not just live for Jesus at camp. My boyfriend Blake, who is camp director at a different camp also gave his fishhook speech last friday night and I'm really proud of him. :) After the speech/sermon, the staff gives each kid a pin that has a fishook on it to help them remember. Then on Saturday we send the campers off in the morning back to their homes and we finish up any projects we did not get to finish and then do all the paperwork.
We had a bunch of extra bumps in the road for this week. First of all we had a TON of rain! Many of our projects could not be worked on or finished because of it. Wednesday we had a tornado warning and I got caught in the middle of it with some hail and road flooding. On Monday our lead field, Will, hydroplaned and his car fell of the road and rolled on top of a house. He had to be pried out of his car, but praise the Lord he had no broken bones, just some bruising and soreness. One of our campers got bit by a snake as well, but he was taken care of. Other than that, it was an amazing week. The campers had a huge effect on me more than I realized they would. Several came and shared what was on their hearts and I loved having the opportunity to pray with and for them. The families we worked for were so thrilled not just for the work, but that people took time to be with them and talk with them. I am thouroughly enjoying serving the Lord and will be ready to continue serving after a few days rest with family and Blake.